Saurabh Garg on The New New Thing

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The audience enjoyed it. Media went into a frenzy. Record books were re-written. Everyone won. Except the game. I am talking about Virendra Sehwag’s triple-ton. In course of reaching that magical number, he made umpteen number of records and everyone was mesmerized with this performance. I have a slightly different view to offer.

The pitch was as flat as a table-tennis table and anyone who could hold a bat would be able to score runs. A score of 300 plus is just another number and we should not let the bigger picture out of sight.

What Virendra Sehwag did was commendable and not a lot of people have been able to achieve it. He should be amply rewarded for the same. But did it contribute to India winning the match? Did it even help us get close to the win? People might argue that he saved us from a defeat. But again do they really think that if he did not bat, we would have been dismissed for 200 twice and we would then loose by an innings?

Wondering if we can make a pitch that gives a 90 degrees turn to bowlers, we can have all bowling records for us. Then lets make a ground that is as small as the 30 yard circle. We can then have records for maximum number of sixes, fastest 10, 30, 50, 100 etc. Is it awards and records that we chase? Or is it the game that has to be bigger than everything else? Obviously, history does not remember conditions in which records were made. Only the number stands. And numbers are all that matters.

Can we have someone take cognizance of this and take control of pitches and other things affecting cricket before its too late?

Disclaimer: I am die-hard cricket fan and ardent supporter of Indian Cricket.